Machine for setting gromets and similar articles.



I. G. BUGKMINSTBR. MACHINE FOR SETTING GROMBTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914;

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APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 22, 1906.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

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v Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

I. C. BUGKMINSTER. MACHINE FOR SETTING GROMETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906.

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Patented Apr. 21, 1914B 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906.

I. 0. BUGKMINSTER.

MACHINE FOR SETTING GROMETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

6 SHEBTSSHBET 5.

I. BUOKMINSTER. MACHINE FOR SETTING GROMETS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1906 L93O40 I Patented Apr. 21, 1914" J 'IIIIIIIAJ| $1 1!!! 0 20 6 ll Q 79 f] VWT/VESSES.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA C. BUCKMINSTER, OF BEVERLY,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. O. 8: C.

(30., 0F ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR SETTING GROMETS SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Specification-of Letters'ratent. Patented Apr. 21, 1914:.

Application filed March 22, 1906. Serial No. 307,444.

. ting gromets, buttons, rivets, and similar them into engagement articles, with which a washer or analogous device is used, the head of the gromet, button'or-rivet, after it has been set, lying upon one side of the stock and a Washer or analogous device lying upon the other side of the stock and being fastened to a projecting portion of the gromet, button or rivet.

More particularly this invention relates to improvements in means for supplying gromets and washers to the setting point on a machine, a. 6., to that point at which a gromet and a Washer are fastened to stock by the action of setting devices.

In manipulating washers preparatory to presenting them atthe setting point of a machine, 1t. is desirable to have a plurality of washers arranged in convenient positions 1 to constitute a supply from whlch successive conveniently disposed washers may be taken for setting. To this end, it is preferred to employ a well for holding a. plurality of washers which may be arranged for example, in line, as by bemg superposed one above another. The washers may be introduced to the well by means of a raceway; may be removed from the well by a feeding device which receives successive. washers and delivers them tothe setting point. It

-may occur frequently that washers are in-' correctly positioned in a well or the like, and if permitted to remain so they are likely to clog the well or to reach the feeding device in improper positions. This faulty position'ing of'washers is of particular disadvantage when a follower is employed to press the washers for any purpose, as for keeping them in a compact line or pressing with a feeding def vice A washer being incorrectly positioned, as by leaning against the wall of a well, may obstruct the operation of the follower so as residing at positioned gromets.

and they well, a follower for pressing the washers in the well, and means for agitating the washers in the well to cause them to assume similar positions.

Gromets and the like are commonly fed from a hopper by means of a raceway; and this raceway is likely, in the course of operation of the machine, to contain a continuous r w of gromets extending to, and possiblgwl eyond, a point at which gromets are introduced from the hopper. Thereafter, at least temporarily, surplus gromets may enter the raceway without being able to assume their proper positions, and if they were I permitted to remain in the raceway they might cause such congestion as would im'-' pede or arrest the progress of thecorrectly .85, To avoid this difficulty this invention contemplates as one ofv its features, the combination of a raceway structed to recelve an excess of I gromets, means for delivering an excess of gromets to the raceway, and provision for discarding surplus gromets from the raceway.

If gromets have flat or relatively thin flanges, said flanges, 'when the gromets are .disposed in line 1n the raceway, are 'likely to overlap each other,

thereby permitting the shanks of the gromets to be positioned-Q more closely together than is desirable.) If

a gromet reaches the feed end of the race,

way while its flange overlaps, or is over lapped'by, the flange of another gromet, the

proper feed of the firstgromet may'be seri;

ously interfered with an P sibly; Ltwol gromets at once may be removed from the raceway. Preferably,-inf the practice ofthis 1 b '1nvention,"a gromet is" removed from"the feed end'of theraceway by means of a feed slide which, while in motion, takes agromet' fromthe raceway'and conveys it toward the setting point; A romet should be posiif tioned with particular accuracy in order to be properly engaged by a moving feed-slide;

and consequently it IS highly desirable that a gromet which is to be acted upon by the feed-slide be entirely free fro-m any contact which may tend to detain it or to divert it from its proper course. To this end a feature of the present invention comprises means for isolating a gromet preparatory to presenting said gromet to the action of amoving feed-slide.

Other features of the invention will be described herein and will be defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,--Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gromet-setting machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from the left in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a plan view partly in section on the line H of Fig. 3'; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective, partly in section, looking from the right-hand side of the rear of the machine, showing gromets passing from a hopper into a raceway; Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a portion of a gromet raceway, and a gromet feed-slide in its rearward position, and also shows a setting device in the operation of upsetting the shank of a.

gromet; Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6, the setting device inactive, the gromet feed-slide in its forward position, and a centering-pin elevated to'engage a gromet; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective looking from the front of the right-hand side of the machine, showing mechanism for conveying washers from a washer hopper and feeding them to a setting device; Fig. 9is detail elevation, partly in section, taken through the center of a washer feed-slide and showing a washer well, a portion of a washer receway, and a washer feedrslide in its rearward position; Fig. l0 is a detail elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9 with the washer feed-slide in its forward posi tion; Fig. 11 is a detail section of a portion of a well and a washer feed-slide; Fig. 12 is a detail perspective of a portion of the washer feed-slide; Fig. 13 is a detail end elevation of a portion of washer hopper;

Fig. 14: is a vertical section of a gromet and a washer assembled in a piece of stock preparatory to' clenching the gromet barrel on the washer.

For purposes of full and complete explanation, the accompanying drawings show an I 1905, Serial No. 247,323; and many novel features of said machine constitute elements of the invention sought to be patented upon said co-pending application. It is desired herein expressly to disclaim any invention involved in the features claimed in said 00- pending application. Separately considered said features constitute no part of the invention of the present applicant; but combinations of certain of said features with some of the present improvements constitute important subject-matter of this invention.

The principal elements of the machine shown in the accompanying drawings comprise a punch for punching a hole in the stock; a setting device arranged to cooperate with an anvil to set a'gromet and washer on opposite sides of the stock; means for feeding a gromet to the setting point; and means for feeding a washer'to the setting point. The several instrumentalities of the machine are actuated through two treadles, one of which, hereinafter called the unch-treadle, operates the punch and the ot er of which, hereinafter called the setting-treadle, operates the setting and feeding devices. Whenever the setting-treadle is released, at the completion of a setting operation, the gromet-feeding devices are" caused to deliver a gromet face downward to the setting point;

and consequently when themachine is normally at rest a gromet is in position to be set. In order to make a hole in the stock for the reception of the gromet barrel, the stock is placed beneath the punch and the punch-treadle-is depressed. Thereafter the hole in the stock is threaded over the shank of the gromet which has been delivered previously to the setting point. This having been effected the setting-treadle is depressed, with the result that a washer is delivered to the upper face of the stock in axial alinement with the gromet which is already in register with the setting device.

Concurrently with the feed of the washer the setting device is depressed until the washer is finally in place and the shank of the gromet has been upset on the outer face of the washer. V

In the operation of the machine the stock rests upon a table 20 supported upon the post 21 which constitutes the standard of the machine. The punching devices comprise a plunger 22, a lever 23, a treadle-rod 24, and a puneh-treadle 25. These parts are so arranged that, when the punch-treadle 25 is depressed, the punch (1, carried in the lower end of the plunger 22, will be forced through the stock on to a punch-platen 6 (see Fig. 8) adjustably supported on the table 20. As shown in the drawings, the elements of the punching mechanism are normally independent of the rest of the machine.

The settin devices comprise a plunger 26, a lever 2 a treadle-rod 28 and a setting-treadle 29. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 a'setting-dle o is supported in the lower end of the plunger 26 so that said die 0 is movable axially of the plunger within predetermined limits. As the plunger 26. descends the set 0 will normally occupy a position at the lowermost limit of its move; ment axially of the plunger (see Fig. 9); but when the set 0 encounters an obstacle during its descent its movement will be temporarily arrested, the plunger 26 continuing to descend so that the set 0 will approach the uppermost limit of its movement relativeto the plunger (see Fig. 10). This pro.- vision is of importance in connection with the feeding of washers to the setting point as will be explained hereinafter. -A settinganvil d, coaxial with the set a, is provided on the upper face of the table 20. This anvil d consists of an annular recess which is intended to support the face of a grometflange preliminarily to and during the setting operation. A substantiall vertical aperture in the center of the anvi d is provided for the reception of a centering-pin 6. This centering-pin e is projected upwardly at the proper time to enter the barrel of a gromet to center the latter and hold itin place.

Preferably the setting-plunger 26 .is mounted in a guideway 30 rigidly supported on a bracket 31; and the punch-plunger 22 is mounted in a block 32 (see Fig. 1) which is secured to the guideway 30 by bolts 33 (see Fig. 3), so as'to be laterally adjustable relatively to said guideway 30. In this manner the punch a and set 0 are rendered relatively movable for varying the spacing between successive gromets set in the stock. The gromet and washer feeding devices about to be described and the centering-pin e are all (with one unimportant exception) controlled by the vertical reciprocation of the treadle-rod 28 which is elevated by depressing the setting-treadle 29, and which, when said treadle 29 is released, is retracted downwardly by a spring .34 (see Fig. 2).

The gromet feeding devices comprise 'a gromet hopper f, a gromet-raceway g, and a gromet feed-slide h which takes successive gromets from the raceway and delivers them to the settin point. The hopper f (see Figs. 2 and 5 consists of a semi-cylindrical box having for its bottom a flat tray 35 provided with parallel grooves for guiding gromets to the outlet apertures Fig. Projecting from the outer surface of the tray 35 are lugs 37, 37 whereby the hopper is pivoted on a stud 38 supported by a rigid bracket 39. A link 40 connects the hopper f with the lever 27 in such a manner that movement of said lever rocks the hopper onthe stud 38 to jog the gromets and prevent their becoming congested. When the lever 27 is rocked by depressing the setting-treadle 29, the hopper is moved on the stud 38 into communication with the raceaperture 36, by

36, 36 (see.

way for delivering gromets thereto through the apertures 36, 36 (see Fig. 5). In order to regulate the supply of gromets delivered through said apertures 36, 36, they may be rovided with gates 41, 41 (see Fig. 2) which may be arranged for closin any desired number of'the apertures. Each gate 41 is secured to the hopper contiguous to an means of screws passing through elongated slots which permit the gate to slide back and forth to open and close its aperture. The hopper is also preferably provided with a hinged ooor having a latch (see Fig. 5). Each aperture 36 is so shaped as to permit a gromet to pass through it in one osition only, i. 6., with its flange downward and its shank extending upwardly. In this position each gromet is delivered tocthe raceway g.

The raceway g has a flat floor on which the faces of the gromets travel and throughout the upper part of its length it has a ard 42 to prevent the escape of gromets ed from the hopper (see Figs. 4 and 5). A gromet, just after issuing from the hopper, is in a position at substantially right angles to that which it finally assumes by reason of striking the inclined inner wall of the raceway. If then, the raceway becomes filled with a continuous row of correctly sitioned grometsextending to, and possibly beyond, a point of communication with the hopper, surplus gromets subsequently fedto the raceway will be positioned at right angles to the correctly positioned gromets,

the flanges of the former resting edgewise on the tops of the flanges of the latter, and the barrels .of the formerresting on the tops of the barrels of the latter. In this position a surplus gromet will roll down the raceway until it encounters the discarding devices.

The discarding devices comprisea deflector 43, a cooperating deflector 44and a chute 45 (see Fig. 4). he deflector 43 consists of a' rib projectin inwardly from the guard 42. The rear en of said rib is at a sufficient distance above the floor of the raceway to permita correctly positioned gromet to pass by it undisturbed; but said rib is so arranged that the barrel of a surplus romet will be engaged by the upper Iaceof t e rib, and a the gromet progresses downwardly in the aceway, will be elevated and finally deflected into the Cl1l1t645. The second deflector 44 performs a like 'oflice for the flange of a surplus gromet, elevating the latter slightly and then permitting the gromet. to fall into the chute 45. The chute may conveniently discharge its surplus gromets into a reserve hopper or the like. The discarding devices may serve .also to permit incorrectly positioned romets to leave the race way even though t e latter be not filled by a continuous row of gromets.

As the correctly positioned gromets pass &

down the raceway they. finally reach the detainer 2' which operates somewhat in the manner of a turn-stile to arrest the progress of the gromets and to permit one gromet to 5 pass at a time (see Fig. 4). This detainer 2' consists of a circular head secured on the end of a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a stationary bearing 46 bracketed to the frame of the machine. Disposed at intervals on the circularface of said head, near its circumference, are a plurality of stoppins 47. Five of these pins are shown in the drawings (see Figs. 1 and 4). These pins are so arranged that, when the detainer is Y rotated, they are projected in succession into the path of a row of gromets in the raceway; and at all times some one of said pins is in position to arrest the progress of said row of gromets. The detainer is given a step-bystep rotation by means of a ratchet 48, fixed on the shaft of the detainer-head, and "a cooperating pawl on a pivoted pawl-carrier I 49 which is intermittently rocked to drive the ratchet, through the medium of a link. 50 (see Figs. 2 and 5). The link 50 is yieldingly connected to the setting-lever 27 and is reciprocated thereby as the setting-treadle 29 is depressed and released. At each step in the rotation of the detainer i, a stop-pm 30 47 is removed from in front of the lowermost gromet in the row, thereby liberating said gromet; and simultaneously an adjacent stop-pin 47 is projected into the path of the next followin gromet which, in the further movement 0 the detainer, is permitted to proceed down the raceway into the position just previously occupied by the recently liberated gromet.

setting-treadle is released the detainer iis rotated through one step and thereby one gromet is liberated. The liberated gromet passes down the raceway and takes position resting on the table 20 between two spring fingers 51, 51. Thus when the feed-slide h acts on the gromet the latter is entirely isolated from the other gromets and there is nothing to interfere with its being readily and accuratelyfed.

The gromet feed-slide it consists of a plate resting upon the table 20 and extending from near the settingpointto the rear ofthe machine where it terminates in an antifriction roller 52 (see Figs. 2 and 4). The rear portion of the feed-slide is enlarged to form a rectangular block which is movable endwise in a stationary guideway 53. A spring 54 is secured at one end to said guideway, and at the other end to the feed-slide so that said spring tends constantly to move the feed-slide rearwardly. This tendency of thespring 54 is opposed, for moving the feed-slide forwardly and maintaining it in its forward position, by means of a cam 55 carried by the treadle-rod 28 (see Fig. 2).

- 65.When the setting-treadle 29 is depressed the Each time the cam 55 is elevated permitting the spring 54 to withdraw the feed-slide. When the setting-treadle 29 is released the treadle-rod 28 is retracted by the spring 34 and thereby the cam 55 is moved downwardly, its acting face 56 serving to project the feed-slide forwardly through the agency of the roller 52. When the treadle-rod has reached its lowermost position the dwell 57 of the cam rests against the roller 52 and holds the feed-slide in its forward position. The rearward movement of the feed-slide is limited by the pin to which the forward end of the spring 54 is secured, this pin abutting against the upper portion of the guideway 53; and the forward movement of the feed-slide is limited by the shoulder 59 ofthe slide block abutting against a roller 60 journaled on the bracket of the bearing 46 (see Fig. 7). The roller 60 performs another oflice presently to be described. When at its rearward limit of movement the gromet feed-slide is in the position shown in Fig.6, with its forward or feed end removed some distance to the rear of the end of the raceway. When in its forward limit of movement the feed-slide is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7 with its feed end positioned at the setting point. In its movement the feed-slide passes back and forth directly beneath the spring-fingers 51 on the end of the raceway which is spaced slightly above the table 20 to permit free passage of the feed-slide. When the feed end of the feed-slide has been withdrawn from beneath the spring-fingers 51 toward its extreme rearward position, a gromet is liberated by the detainer i and this gromet travels down the raceway and finally rests on the table 20 between the fingers 51. The forward end of the feed-slide is bifurcated to form a longitudinal recess 61 and as the feed-slide is returned toward its forward limit of movement this recess 61 embraces the barrel of the gromet and conveys it toward the setting point. As shown in Fig. 6 the forward end of the feed-slide is normally elevated slightly above the table .20 by its own elasticity, it being bent upwardslightly to suit this purpose. This 1nsures that the bifurcations of the feed-slide will overlie the flange of the gromet to permit the recess 61 readily to engage the barrel of the gromet. As the feedslide moves forward carrying the gromet in the recess 61, acam face 62 on the feed-slide (see Fig. 7) encounters the roller 60 which acts to depress the forward end of the feedslide so that its bifurcations shall press against the upper face of the gromet flange. This serves to prevent the escape of the gromet from the control of the feed-slide. and, when the gromet is delivered to the setting point, it serves to seat the gromet upon the anvil d.

Shortly after the gromet reaches position This u )ward ro'ection of the centerin pin a is eflectedthrough the agency of its supporting lever-63, pivoted at 61 to the frame of the machine. The rear end of the lever 63 carries an adjusting screw the head of which constitutes an abutment which is struck by the lug 65 on the cam during the descent of the treadle-rod 28 after the setting-treadle has been released. The adjusting screw and the lug are so arranged that the latter will strike the former and rock the lever 63 shortly after the gromet is delivered at the set-ting point. In this manner a gromet is held securely in place, being supported from beneath by the anvil .(Z, and centrally by the centering-pin e. In

this position the gromet has been set. I

A washer is delivered to the setting pointremains until it after the stock has been punched and the hole in the stock has been threaded over the barrel of the gromet which encircles the 'centerlng-pin e.

The principal elements of the washer feeding devices are av washer a main raceway is, an auxiliary washer-receway Z, a washer well m, a follower n and a washer feed-slide 0 (see Figs. 1, 3, 4, s, 9 and 10). is similar in many hopper. It is pivoted on the stud 66 and is rocked to jog the washers, through the agency of a link 67 connecting the hopper and the punch-lever 23. The washers intended to be used on the specific machine shown in the drawings are circular in form and have central apertures of proper dimensions to fit over the barrels of gromets. The extreme outer edge of each washer consists of a narrow circular lip 72 which is slightly conical (see Fig. 18). That portion of each washer which intervenes between the central aperture and the lip p forms a conca-vo-conv'ex annulus q presenting at the circumference of the central aperture an inner'lip r. Hereinafter the lip 72 will be designated the outer lip to distinguish it from the inner lip r. Preferably the lips 79 and 1" lie next to the'st'ock when the gromet and washer'ar'e finally set and the convex .face of the washe'nlies on the outside ,(see Fig.,14). The; above referred to.

The tray 68 of the elevation in Fig. 13) and these tracks are arranged to supportbetween them one or more washers, diametrically opposite portions of the outer lips 79 of the washers-resting upon adjacent. tracks as shown in Fig.

v proach 'sitioned washers.

Thev washer hopper j respects to the gromet' washer" top er has a series of parallel tracks 69 (shown in end,

the, outlet turn. a I raceway reaches the outlet 72 1t is'turned so 13, The ends of the tracks 69 together;

'above the acting faces of the adjacent tracks 69 so as to permit a lip 79 of a washer to pass beneath said wall if the washer be positioned with its convex face downward (see Fig. 13); but the lower edge of the wall is not elevated sufficiently to permit the washer to pass beneath it if the convex side be uppermost. It follows then, that only those washers can issue from the hopper which have their convex sides downward and their lips 72 and 1" uppermost. The Washer hopper j may be provided with gates 71 similar to the gates 41 described in connection with the gromet hopper f. Incorrectly positioned washers will frequently apthe apertures and if they be permit-ted to accumulate near the apertures they are likely to cause congestion which will impede the egress of-the correctly po- To prevent this a bar 171 is provided within the hopper. This bar, extending transversely of the tracks 69 and spaced slightly above them, presents a tapered edge to the washers as they descend the tracks (see Fig. 8). If'thev washers-are correctly positioned 01f the tracks they pass freely beneath .the bar 171; but if a washer be positioned with its convexity upward, the edge of the bar will arrest the washer and prevent its further approach toward an aperture. The rocking, movement of" the hopper may cause the arrested washer to ride up the bar 171 and finally the washer will be thrown back intothe hopperwithout having approached near enough to -,an aperture 70 to cause any congestion. Each time the punch-treadle 25 is depressed for punching a hole, the washer hopper is rocked. on its pivot so that the apertures 70 lie immediately above the main washer raceway la.

v When the hopper is in this position the tracks 69 incline downward toward the apertures 70 and consequently washers slideinclined face of the down said tracks, those which are positioned with their convex faces downward issuing from the hopper through said apertures. The washers'which are thus delivered from the hopper fall into the. main-raceway 7c. -..Washers fall edge downward into; the raceway Z; which --is of such :width (see Fig. 4) that 'theiiwashers are-held on edge as they travel down its 'inclined'floor. It will be" noted "(see Fig. 8) that 'theconvex side of "each washer-is turned toward that wall of-the raceway which is nearest the hopper. At the lower end of the raceway, its'lateral walls make anfabrupt turn to form an outlet 72.= (See Figs. 1,4 and 8). The floor of the raceway terminates at the elbow of When vawasher. in the that its. convexity faces forward, e., to-:

issuing from the hopper. The washers slide thus downthe auxiliary raceway Z and fall into the well m where they are superposed one above another'in a series resting normally upon a washer feed-slide o presently to be described (see. Fig. 9). This feedslide has a recess on its upper face in which it receives the lowermost washer in the well andmoves said washer from'the well to the setting point. In order that said lowermost washer-shall be sure to enter said recess in the feed-slide, provision is made for pressing upon the top of thepile of washers in the well; and this provision as shown in the drawings preferably consists of an intermittently acting follower n.

Thefollower n has a pressing face 73,

, supplied on a block 74, which is reciprocated vertically into and out of the top of the well. The block 74 is carried at the lower extremity of an actuating rod 75 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10) which is connected at its upper end to the setting-lever 27. Whenever the setting-treadle 29 is released the follower is positively elevated (see Fig. 2) and when the setting-treadle is depressed the follower is also depressed through the agency of a coil spring 76 which encircles the rod? 5 and abuts at one end against a portion of thebracket 31 and at the other end against a block 77 adjustably secured to the rod 5. The follower acts to press the washers in the well during the time the washer feedslide is removing the lowermost washer as hereinafter explained. The follower is retreated upwardly for the purposeof permitting washers to enter the well from the auxiliary raceway Z.

The mechanism for removing a washer from the well and conveying it to the setting point, comprises the washer feed-slide o, a retainer .9 and an:actuatorxt.. The washer feed-slide o is normally inclosed within a guideway 78 and is held yieldingly'spaced from the floor of the guideway by means of two leaf springs 79, 79 interposed between the feed-slide and said floor. The front spring 79 is secured to said floor and the other is secured to the feed-slide, (see Figs. 9 and 10). The washer feed-slide is ar ranged to be moved endwise beneath the washer well m toward and from the setting point. The retainer 8 consists of a thin pl'ate bearing upon the top face of the feed-slide between the latter and the cover of the tainer s is a pin 80 through which motion is communicated to both the retainer and feed-slide. The pin 80 extends downwardly 'from the retainer 8 into a slightly elongated slot 81 in the feed-slide (see Fig. 9); and said pin extends upwardly from the retainer through an open space in the guideway cover and into an elongated slot 82 in the forward end of the actuator 25 (see Figs. 4 and 9). The slot 82 extends laterally across the end of the actuator and is intended to accommodate the relative lateral movement of the pin 80 as the retainer and feed-slide move back and forth in a path which is at an angle to the path of the actuator (see Fig. 4). The actuator t consists of a block which extends from its forward end (containing the slot-82) through an actuatorguideway 83 to the rear of the machine where it terminates in an anti-friction roller 84. The forward portion of the actuator is deeply rabbeted on its under side so that the part containing the slot 82 may overlie the feed-slide guideway 78 (see dotted lines in Fig. 3). The actuator is moved to, and held (limited by a nut 85 abutting on the guideway 83) by means of a coil spring 86 attached at one end to the actuator and at its other end to a pin 87 on the guideway 83. Said spring 86 acts thus. through the actuator, to maintain the feed-slide and retainer in their rearward positions. The action of the spgirig 86 is opposed for moving forward the actuator. and therethrough the retainer and feed-slide, by means of a cam 88 carried by the setting treadle-rod 28 (see Fig. 3). The cam 88 consists of an inclined face supplied on an arm of a bell-crank lever 89 pivoted at 90 to the trea-dle-rod 28. The upper end of the arm carrying the cam 88 abuts against an adjusting screw 91 sup ported in an car on the treadle-rod; and said arm is normally held against said adjusting screw by a spring 92 attached at one end to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever, and at its other end to the treadle-rod (see Fig. 3). Asthe setting-treadle 29 is de pressed the treadle-rod 28 is elevated, thereby raising the cam 88 which strikes the roller 84 on the actuator and thereby moves forward the actuator, retainer and feedslide. Toward the end of the upward movement of the treadle-rod, the cam 88 passes beyond the roller 84 and permits the actuator to be moved rearwardly into its initial position by the action of the spring 86, this movement of the actuator serving also to retreat the retainer and feed-slide. When the treadle-rod begins its downward return trip a second cam 93 (near the cam 88 on the bell-crank lever 89) strikes the roll 84 on the actuator. The actuator being then at its rearward limit of movement the coguideway 78. Rigidly secured in the re- .normally in, its extreme rearward position operation of the roll 84 and cam 93 serves merely temporarily to rock the bell-crank.

lever 89 on its pivot, against the tension of its spring 92. This permits the cam 88 to return past the actuator roll 84 with-out effect upon the latter. treadle-rod 28 has reached its'lowermost station, the cam 93 has departed from the influence of the roll 84 and the spring 92 has acted to return the bell-crank lever to its initial position determined by the adjusting screw 91. By the means just described the washer feed-slide o is reciprocated in its guideway 78.

When the feed-slide is at its rearward limit of movement, its forward or feed end lies directly beneath the well m wherein are positioned the superposed washers (see Fig. 9). The feed end of the feed-slide is bifurcated and has on its upper face a'circular recess 94 of slightly greater diameter than a washer (see Fig. 12).v This recess is arranged to register normally withthe interior of the well. The floor of the recess 94 lnclines upwardly toward the end of the feed-slide (see Fig. 11). The feed-slide be-' ing in the position just described, the fol lower n presses a Washer into the recess 94 and thereafter the feed-slide is moved forward to deliver the washer at the setting point. It might occur that the washer on the feed-slide would be'so close-1y followed by the washer next above that the movement of the feed-slide would tend to remove two washers simultaneously from the well; and to defeat this tendency the retainer 8 is provided. The forward end of the retainer is tapered to form a thin edge. Normally ,this end of the retainer 8 is positioned slightly to the rear of the recess 94.. actuator t begins its forward movement the pin 80 is advanced. The pin 80 being rigidly attached to the retainer 8, the latter is immediately moved forward; but as regards the feed-slide, the pin 80 has a slight amount of lost motion by reason of the elongation of the slot 81 (see Fig. 9). Consequently the retainer will be advanced a short distance before the feed-slide begins to move. This slight movement of the retainer while the feed-slide is yet stationary serves to project the tapered end of the former abovethe adj acent portion ofthe washer in the well, and I beneath the washer next above; and even if these two washers be very close together the tapered end of the retainer will be interposed between them and will, if necessary, forcibly separatethem. As the retainer is farther advanced its tapered end forces upward the lowermost washer now remaining in the well, and thereafter the upper face of the retainer constitutes the bottom of the well upon which rests the pile of washers. The floor of the recess 94.- is so inclined that,

when a washer is resting thereon, the forbeneath the wall of the well As the ward edge of said washer is substantially fiush with the upper face of the feed-slide. Therefore when the. feed-slide moves, the

forward part of the washer will slide closely so that the in the well. As the feed-slide moves toward the setting point the retainer, still overlapping a part of the washer, contributes to hold the washer in place. The movement of the feed-slide takes place while the set 0 is descending; and their co-action is so timed that a portion of the washer on the feed-.

slide is projected into the path ofthe set a just before the lower extremity of the latter reaches the plane of movement of the washer (see Fig. 10). The set 0' in its farther descent impinges againstvthe upper face of the washer, and is arrested momentarily while the setting-plunger 26 continues to descend. Then the aperture of thewasher is brought into axial alinemeut with the set 0, the

spindle 95 of the set drops into said aperture, thereby accurately centering the washer so that it registers exactly withthe set 0 and also with the gromet previously delivered to the anvil (Z and now held thereon by the centering-pin e. As already .described the stock lies on the table 20 when a washer is moved from the well to the setting point and obviously the feed-slide must travel above the stock in order to deliver the washer on the opposite side of the stock from the gromet. The forward end of the washer feed-slide is beveled on its under side to permit it to slide easily over the stock in case of contact between them (see Fig. 9).

When the feed-slide is in position at the setting point, its bifurcations flank the centering-pine and ther'encircling barrel of a gromet (see Fig. 10}. When the set 0 has effectively engaged the washer the feed-slide begins its rearward movement actuatedby the spring 86 and thereafter the set 0 (having moved, relatively to the plunger 26, to its uppermost position) is positively pressed downward to force the washer over the gromet barrel and to clench said barrel on the washer. During this latter operation the spindle 95 of the set 0 enters the barrel of the gromet and forces the centering-pin e down into'its aperture. a As already explained a washer may be 1ncorrectly positioned in the well and when so situated may give rise to serious difliculty. It is desirable therefore to supply means for causing washers entering the well to assume proper positions lying one upon another. To this'end an agitator u is arranged to strike the bottom washer in the well at intervals to jar the pile of washers and cause them to settle in their proper stations (see Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9). The 'agltator a projects upwardly into an aperture 96 in the table 20 directly beneath the well at (see Fig. 9), and is arranged to move toward and from the well, its movement being limited by a pin 97, fixed. in the aperture 90, which enters an elongated slot 98 in the agitator. When at its upper limit of motion, the top of the agitator is slightly above the proper plane of the lowermost washer in the well, having passed between the bifurcations of the feed-slide 0 which is, then in its rearward position.

The agitator u is moved indirectly through'the agency of a lever 99 (see Fig 3) which is pivoted to the frame of the ma chine at 100 and is pivoted to the centeringpin lever 63 at 101. Pivoted to a lug 102 on the front end of the lever 99 is a link 103 which is also pivoted to the agitator u at 104 (see Fig. 9). Thus the link and agitator constitute a toggle. A spring 105 is attached at one end to a lug on the lever 99 and at the other end to the link 103. When the machine is at rest the toggle occupies the position shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the agitator a being then at its lowermost limit of movement determined by the pin 97. At this time the front end of thelever 99 is at its upper limit of movement because (in elevating the centering-pin) the rear of the is again elevated (upon elevating the cen-- tering pin) -the' straightened toggle forces the agitator upward to its highest posit-ion to strike the lowermost washer in the well.

The lever 99 continues to move upward after the agitator has reached its uppermost limit, and thereby the toggle is broken, its elbow bemg given a decreasing angle until the line of tension of the spring 105 passes slightly below the line of centers of the lug 102 and pin 106, whereupon the spring becomes effective to hold the toggle in the position shown in Fig. 8. When the toggle is initially broken by the continued upward movement of lever 99, the agitator is rocked slightly on the pin 97 so that the upper curved edge of the agitator is moved forwardly a short distance. This movement of the upper edge of the agitator serves to drag the washers slightly away from the rear wall of the wellso as to loosen any washer which may be leaning against said rear wall, that being the more usual incorroot position assumed by washers upon entering the well. When the toggle is straightened as already described, the line of tension of the spring 105 shifts from the position shown in Fig. 8, across the line of centers of lug 102 and pivot'lOet, to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the spring actsto hold the toggle straight until said spring is forcis lbly returned across said line of centers to its initial position. In holding the toggle straight the spring 105 causes a pin 100 (whereby the spring is attached to link 103) to abut against the rear of the agitator; and in holding the toggle in the position shown in Fig. 8, the spring 105 causes a pin 107 on link 103 to engage a recess 108 (see Fig. 9) on the front of the agitator.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The stock in which the gromets are to be set is placed on the table 20. The operator then depresses the punch-treadle 25 to actuate the punch for making a hole in the stock. The hole in the stock is threaded over the gromet which is held in position on the anvil by the normally elevated centering-pin, and the operator then depresses both treadles simultaneously to upset the shank of said gromet and also to punch a hole for the next gromet which is to be attached to the stock. As the setting treadlerod 28moves upwardly the acting face 56 of the cam 55 will be withdrawn from engagement with the roll on the end of the gromet feed-slide and the spring 5 1 will move said slide rearwardly. As the gromet feed-slide is moved rearwardly the washer feed-slide is moved forwardly by theengagement of the cam. 88 with the roll on the rear end of the actuator t, and the lowera most washer in the well isremoved therefrom and conveyed to the setting point of 1 the machine where the set 0 rc'es the washer down around the barrel of the gromet and clenches the end of said barrel over the edge of the aperture in the washer.

When the operator removes his foot from v the treadles their retracting springs return them to their normal positions, and as the treadle-rod 28 moves downwardly the acting face 56 of the cam 55 moves the gromet feed-slide forwardly to carry a gromet to the setting point. Shortly after the feedslide reaches its forward position, the abutment 65 on the cam 55 strikes the adjusting screw on the centering-pin lever 63 thereby rocking said lever to elevate the centeringpin and also to actuate the agitator u.

Many changes might be made in the machine shown in the drawings without departing from the proper scope of this invention- For example, this machine has been described as employing particular types of gromets and washers respectively, but obviously a machine embodying this invention could be used in connection with many types of similar articles. Certain features of the invention have been described as particularly applicable to the handling of gromets but since the gromets themselves are closely similar to eyelets,

these features might be employed advantageously on eyeleting machines and the like. All such changes as are here sug gestcd, and many others which will appear to those skilled in the art, are to be construed as included within the scope of the invention as it is defined inthe subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

\ 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a container of substantially circular cross-section for holding. a plurality of washers superposed in line, said container being of such diameter as to pre-, vent substantial lateral washers, of means for agitating the washers to cause them to assume desired positions, said means acting directly on the washers in the container.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of washer-feeding means for arranging a plurality of washers superposed in line, and means acting, directly on the washers for agitating said washers to cause them to assume desired positions.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a washer well for holding a plurality of washers substantially in llne one resting on another, and means acting axially of the well for agitating the washers in the well. i

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a well for holding a plurality of washers superposed one upon another; means for feeding washers to the well; and means acting axially of the well and directly on the washers for agitating the Washers in the well.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a well arranged for holding a plurality of washers one resting on another; means for feeding washers to said well; means for removing a washer from said well; and means arranged to act upon each washer prior to its removal for agitating the washers in said well.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a well arranged for holding a plurality of washers superposed one above another; means for feeding washers into the top of the well; means for removing a washer from the bottom of the well; and agitating means for intermittently striking the lowermost washer in the well.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for holding a plurality of washers substantially in line; a follower arranged to press against saldwashers; and means acting in alinement wlth the washers for agitating said washers.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of washer-feeding means for arranging a plurality of washers in line; a

' 9. In a machine movement of the .vision for movable follower. arranged to press againstsald washers; and means acting in alinement with the follower for agitating said washers. I of the class described, the combination of washer-feeding means for arranginga plurality of washers in line; a reclprocatory follower arranged to press interniittently against said washers; and means acting in alinement with the follower for agitating said washers.

10.-In a machine of the class described, the combination'of a Well for holding aplurality of washers; a follower; means for causing the follower to press intermittently against the upper washers in the well; and means acting upon the lower washer in the well for agitating said washers before the follower presses them.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of washer-feeding means arranged for superposing a plurality of washers one above another; an agitator arranged to act intermittently on the lowermost of said washers; and actuating means for said agitator comprising a toggle, and a spring which acts alternatively to maintain the agitator in its active and inactive positions.

12." In a machine of the class described, the combination of washer-feeding means arranged for superposing a plurality of washers one above another; an agitator arranged to act intermittently on said washers; and actuating means for said agitator comprising an actuating lever, a toggle intermediate said lever and the agitator, and means for holding the toggle alternatively alined and broken.

13. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a raceway; means for delivering an excessof gromets to the raceway; and discarding devices for surplus gromets, comprising cooperating deflectors. which act respectively upon the barrel and flange of a surplus gromet.

14. In a machine ofathe class described, the combination of a stationary raceway; a hopper for discharging gromets to the raceway; a rib on one wall of said raceway; and a deflector which cooperates with sa1d rib to cause incorrectly positioned gromets to leave the raceway.

'15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway; constructed and arranged for receiving gromets edgewise, conducting them into poslt on with their faces downward, and conveying them in the latter position; means for dellvermg gromets edgewise to the raceway; and prodiscarding from the raceway gromets which have not reached their proper positions with their faces downward.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stationary raceway constructed to transfer a line of gromets, a

support for maintaining an excess number of gromets adjacent to the raceway and in position to replace those in the raceway as the latter are removed, the gromets in the raceway and the excess gromets being movable side by side,.and means for collecting those excess gromets which never enter the race- In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stationary raceway having at one side a supporting plate across which flanged fasteners vare supplied to it and upon which excess fasteners are mam.-

tained in readiness to enter the raceway, the fasteners in'the raceway and those on the plate, being movable side by side, and means for collecting those fasteners which pass off the supporting plate without reaching the raceway.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for transferring flanged fasteners resting flatly upon their flanges,an inclined supporting plate merging into the raceway and constructed for maintaining an excess number of fasteners on edge 1n readiness to'slideinto position in the raceway when permitted, and means at one end of the plate for collecting each fastener which does not reach a positionin which it rests upon its flange in passing along the plate.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway for containing a plurality of gromets; a feed-slide for removing a gromet from said raceway; a

7 rotatabledetainer arranged to arrest intermittently theprogress 'of gromets in said 2 raceway and to release a gromet at each ar- 40 rest; and mutually independent actuating mechanisms for said detainer and feed-slide.

'20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a raceway; means for delivering gromets to the raceway; means for removing a gromet from the raceway; a rotatable detainer; stop-pins on the detainer, said detainer being arranged to present some one of said stop-pins at all times.-

in the path of gromets inthe raceway; pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating said detainer to remove one of said pins from the path of the gromets and simultaneously to project another pin into. saidpath. V

y 21. In a machine of the class described, 65 the combination of a hopper for containing a mass of flanged articles to be assorted; a

track in said ho per for supporting at opposite sides of t eir flanges 0th correctly and incorrectly positioned articles; provision for an aperture in the hop er arranged to permit the egress of correct y positioned articles; and a bar in said hopper disposed adjacent to and above the aperture to prevent incorrectly positioned articles approaching near to sald aperture.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of washer feeding means for arranging a plurality of washers superposed in line; a follower, arranged to press against said washers; means for agitating said washers; and means for removing a washer from the bottom of the line.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a well for holding a plurality of washers, a bifurcated feedm slide arranged to support the washers in said well, and an agitatlng member arranged to alctd between the bifurcations of said feeding s 1 e.

In'testimony whereof I have signed my name to this ecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA G. 'BUQKMINSTER.

Witnesses: I

LAURENCE A. JANNEY, Anrmm L. Rnssnnn. 

